On Dec. 9, the Kremlin marked the Day of Heroes of the Fatherland with a lavish event attended by “more than 300 military personnel and civilians who have demonstrated particular courage and heroism, including Heroes of the Soviet Union, Heroes of Russia,” and other top honorees. President Vladimir Putin personally addressed the audience and thanked them for their service.
From state media coverage of the event, St. Petersburg investigative journalist Denis Korotkov identified among the guests a man who he has been writing about for several years: Dmitry Utkin, who uses the nom de guerre “Vagner” and is believed to be the head of an unregistered private military contracting agency called ChVK Vagner.
